Phil Ager, our Managing Director reflects on the positives of 2020
I’m not going to say that 2020 has been a year I would rather forget. In fact, quite the opposite as I am sure most of us have learnt more about ourselves and families, and that can only be a positive thing. True it has been a roller coaster of a ride, but I think it is important we all try to focus on what has been good.
It’s been a year of change for many businesses and for us, the biggest change is perhaps not having worked together at our offices for over 9 months. I could describe it as a huge experiment we were forced to make which with reactive planning, has somehow worked.
Aside from fine tuning areas on collaboration between teams within the business, we have proven it possible to function with everyone working remotely. I know that we are very fortunate and that many businesses sectors simply don’t have that as an option.
Sometimes change comes fast and to succeed and survive, we have to change fast too. Love it or loath it, the world of virtual interaction with our colleagues, clients and suppliers is here to stay as we move into 2021. I’m not suggesting that virtual working is the way forward and we should scrap the idea of ever having an office as a base, but there is middle ground. We need to let go of guilt and feel able to split our time between working from home, the office and physically meeting our clients and suppliers. People need people and interaction with others can never be replaced.
We have a great new opportunity here and I believe that if we get the balance right our staff will be happier people. In turn, happy staff will reflect in a slicker more efficient operation which will mean happier clients. That’s my simple theory anyway.